Ontario MP Erin O'Toole To Explore Conservative Leadership Bid

Durham MP Erin O'Toole has resigned as Conservative public safety critic to explore a bid for the leadership of the party.

"I believe the future of our party is bright," he wrote in his resignation letter to interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose.

"We do not need a new leader to fix us, because we are not broken. We do not need a leader to unite us, because we are not divided. That so many of us want to lead is proof of our shared belief in the party's future."

Erin O'Toole speaks at a press conference in Ottawa on May 12, 2015. (Photo: Sean Kilpatrick/CP)

He said he held off on resigning his critic role so he could contribute to a committee study on operational stress injury. His letter said he has started to assemble a team to explore his leadership.

O'Toole had previously run for the interim leadership of the Conservatives, but lost to Ambrose. He thanked her for her contribution to the party.

O'Toole was first elected to the House of Commons in a byelection 2012. He served in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet as minister of veterans affairs and parliamentary secretary for international trade.

Prior to politics, O'Toole was a lawyer for Proctor & Gamble and an air navigator in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The Conservatives are expecting to choose their new leader in May 2017.

The contenders, so far

Candidate who has declared, registered and paid the full fee: Michael Chong.

Others who have mused about running but not declared: Kevin O'Leary; Rick Peterson; Lisa Raitt.

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Conservative Leadership Candidates

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Federal Conservatives are looking for a full-time replacement for Stephen Harper.
Here are the names of some big players who are running to become the next Tory leader.

Who's in?

First elected in 2006, Bernier served as minister of industry and minister of foreign affairs — a position he resigned in 2008 after leaving government documents at the home of an ex-girlfriend with ties to the Hells Angels.
A high-profile MP from Quebec, he was reappointed to cabinet in 2011 in the junior role of minister of state for small business and tourism.
He's already announced that he's going for it.

Dr. Kellie Leitch, a pediatric surgeon, outgoing minister of labour and minister for the status of women, reportedly has a team in place to mount a campaign.
First elected in 2011, Leitch was easily re-elected in the Ontario riding of Simcoe-Grey. Though also considered a Red Tory, Leitch raised eyebrows during the campaign by declaring herself "pro-life" and announcing government plans to introduce a tip line for so-called "barbaric cultural practices."

Chong, who quit the Harper cabinet in 2006 on a matter of principle, is also running.
The longtime Ontario MP has earned a reputation as a bit of a "rebel," thanks to his Reform Act and calls for conservatives to do more to fight climate change.

Deepak Obhrai, a former Reform MP from Alberta who was first elected in 1997, is the dean of the Conservative Party caucus.
He formally jumped into the race in July 2016.

Andrew Scheer, a Saskatchewan MP who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 2011 to 2015, joined the race in Sept. 2016.
Scheer gave up his Opposition House leader role earlier that month to continue exploring a bid.

The social conservative from Saskatchewan jumped into the race in August 2016. Trost, first elected in 2004, is anti-abortion, anti-same-sex marriage, but is also very fiscally conservative.

The Ontario MP is a former air force captain. First elected in 2012, O'Toole has connections in Atlantic Canada and the GTA, and is seen as more of a fresh face.

The Quebec MP and former public safety minister is the man behind the C-51 anti-terrorism law.

First elected in 2008, Lisa Raitt was perhaps the most high-profile woman in Harper's inner circle. Her name was also floated as a possible contender for the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership.
Raitt served as minister of natural resources, minister of labour, and most recently as minister of transport. While several other Ontario cabinet ministers went down in defeat to Liberals, she was re-elected in the riding of Milton by more than 2,400 votes.
Another Red Tory, she has been vocal about the Conservatives' struggle to appeal to women voters.

The former immigration minister and Ontario MP is also running.
First elected in 2011, Alexander was defeated four years later. He faced questions over his handling of Canada's response to the Syrian refugee crisis.
He also joined Leitch in that ill-fated campaign announcement of a tip line for "barbaric cultural practices."

Saxton was the MP North Vancouver for seven years before losing his seat in 2015. He also served as a parliamentary secretary to two finance ministers and the Treasury Board president.

The Winnipeg doctor, who served as president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, is pitching himself as a political outsider.
Lindsay says on his website that he did five tours of duty as a civilian volunteer in Afghanistan.

The bilingual Vancouver businessman unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party.
He joined the race in Oct. 2016.

An Ontario MP from 2006-2015, Lemieux was defeated in the last election. He is a social conservative and veteran.
He joined the race in Nov. 2016.

Who's thinking about it?

The business mogul and reality TV star told CBC News he's considering launching a bid. Though he's never held elected office, O'Leary said his focus would be on the economy.
"Every word that comes out of a politician's mouth, including mine, should I elect to go for this, is how does it create the next incremental job," O'Leary said. "That's what I care about."

The Toronto-based communications consultant announced in August 2016 that she was going to make a bid.
Snow worked for policy think-tanks but is touting her experience outside the political bubble.

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